TV producer Henry Colman dies

Worked on 'Green Acres,' helped develop 'The Love Boat'

Television producer and executive Henry Colman — whose credits include “The Love Boat” ” and “Green Acres” — died of natural causes on Nov. 7 in Venice, Calif. He was 89.

As a TV executive, Colman oversaw the pilot of “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” and worked on “Green Acres.”

In the 1970s, he helped develop Aaron Spelling’s “The Love Boat”; he was credited as a producer on 150 episodes of the show. Colman also produced the 1980s series “Hotel.”

His career began in the early days of television. In 1951, Colman became assistant to the director for “Kraft Television Theatre” and he later worked on series including “Robert Montgomery Presents” and “Colgate Comedy Hour.”

Moving to Los Angeles in 1961, he became associate producer on “Dr. Kildare” and then “Peyton Place.” He then became an executive producer with CBS supervising such shows as “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Green Acres.”

In the 1970s, Colman became VP of current programming for Paramount Television, overseeing programs including “The Odd Couple” and “Love American Style.” He later held a similar position at Screen Gems Television.

Colman also produced telepics including “Who Is the Black Dahlia?,” “Body of Evidence,” “The Rape of Dr. Willis” and “Parent Trap III.”

He was a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America and wrote several episodes of “The Love Boat,” among other series.

Later, Colman interviewed industry notables including Spelling, Ernest Borgnine and George Carlin for the archives of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Colman was born in Altoona, Penn. He served in the Army Air Corps as a navigator on a B-29 during WWII. He earned a B.A. in Theater Arts from Columbia and spent summers acting with the Virginia Barter Theater Company.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Brainard, former VP at Columbia/Sony; a daughter; and a son.

Donations may be made to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, Archive of American Television, 5220 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.